The easy and obvious explanation for this gap in shopping behaviors: smartphones have web browsers and they often have specialized apps that let people point-and-click easily. But I got to wondering whether people who owned smartphones might be more disposed to shop, period. What if the average smartphone owner simply had more disposable income?

I did a little poking around, and according to the Nielsen company, approximately 42% of all mobile phone users under age 35 use a smartphone, while only 23% of mobile subscribers aged 35-44 and 18% of subscribers aged 45-54 use smartphones. If we were to work under the premise that younger adults historically have lower expenses, then maybe we’re looking at a bunch of 20somethings pointing, clicking and buying on their phones.

I’ll keep an eye out for surveys that break down mobile spending by age and income level. Until then, it’s your call as to whether smartphones prod one to shop more, or if it’s just one more way for a certain demographic to spend money.